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琉 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
琉liúsparkling stone; opaque, glazedns, 11 strokes, radical 王, rank #14534, Very Hard
琉liúprecious stoneunknown, 11 strokes, radical 王, rank #14534, Very Hard
liú(liu2)liu T2
  1. 1sparkling stone; opaque, glazed
  2. 2precious stone
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March 24, 2026

琉liú(liu2)

The character 琉 (liú) refers to a type of sparkling or glazed stone, often associated with precious gems. It is commonly used in contexts related to jewelry or decorative arts, highlighting both beauty and value. The word conveys a sense of elegance and rarity, typically used in more formal or artistic discussions.

Strokes11Radical王Frequency#14534DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

琉璃 (liúlí), derived from 琉, is significant in Chinese culture as it represents traditional craftsmanship in glass and ceramics, often seen in ancient temples and modern art. This art form reflects the intersection of beauty and utility in Chinese aesthetics.

Memory Tip

Imagine a sparkling jewel, glistening under the sunlight, representing the character 琉. The left part (王) symbolizes a 'king' or something precious, while the right side (流) resembles flowing water, suggesting the smooth, glossy surface of a gem.

Meanings of 琉

liú(liu2)
1sparkling stone; opaque, glazed
2precious stone
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 琉

琉Simplified
11Strokes
王Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 琉

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Podcast: 琉

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AI Study Notes for 琉

Usage Notes

琉 is often used in literary or artistic contexts and may not be as common in everyday conversation. Learners should be aware of its formal tone and avoid using it in casual situations. Common collocations include 琉璃 (liúlí), which means 'glazed pottery' or 'glass', emphasizing its connection to art and craftsmanship.

HSK Study Tips

Although 琉 is not included in the HSK standard vocabulary, it can be beneficial for advanced learners to know words related to art and culture. Students should focus on recognizing the character's components and its usage in specialized contexts to enhance their vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 琉 with similar characters like 瓷 (cí), which means 'porcelain'. A common mistake is to use 琉 when referring to ceramics in general, but it specifically relates to glazed or sparkling stones. Always remember that 琉 emphasizes beauty and preciousness.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 琉

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Etymology of 琉

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

jade

Semantic (meaning)王
+
Phonetic (sound)㐬
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

琉 = 王 + 㐬. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 琉

IDS Structure⿰王㐬
琉Full Character
=
王Wang2
left
㐬liu2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 琉?

How to say sparkling stone; opaque, glazed in Chinese

“sparkling stone; opaque, glazed” in Chinese is琉liú

The character 琉 (liú) refers to a type of sparkling or glazed stone, often associated with precious gems. It is commonly used in contexts related to jewelry or decorative arts, highlighting both beauty and value. The word conveys a sense of elegance and rarity, typically used in more formal or artistic discussions.

When to use 琉

琉 is often used in literary or artistic contexts and may not be as common in everyday conversation. Learners should be aware of its formal tone and avoid using it in casual situations. Common collocations include 琉璃 (liúlí), which means 'glazed pottery' or 'glass', emphasizing its connection to art and craftsmanship.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 琉 with similar characters like 瓷 (cí), which means 'porcelain'. A common mistake is to use 琉 when referring to ceramics in general, but it specifically relates to glazed or sparkling stones. Always remember that 琉 emphasizes beauty and preciousness.

Write 琉

琉

Practice writing 琉 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 琉

Words Containing This Character6
琉liúprecious stone
琉璃colored glass
琉球Ryūkyū
琉璃瓦glazed roof tile
琉球群岛Ryukyu Islands琉球群島
琉球乡Liuchiu township in Pingtung County 屏東縣|屏东县[Píng​dōng​Xiàn], Taiwan琉球鄉
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 琉

What does 琉璃 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 琉

琉璃 (liúlí) is a common term that means 'glazed pottery' or 'glass', which uses the character 琉.

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